AVANT - Beneteau FOR SALE

Lightly used and meticulously maintained, this 2020 Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is a standout among premium sail yachts and a compelling choice in today’s market of cruising sailboats for sale in the United States. Purposefully drawn by Berret Racoupeau on a modern, powerful monohull and finished in durable fiberglass, her 51-foot length and generous 15-foot beam deliver the reassuring stability, volume, and poise discerning cruisers expect. Under sail she settles into an effortless rhythm at an economical 7 knots, with the ability to stretch to 9 knots when conditions invite, while a single Yanmar diesel inboard provides quiet, confident thrust for harbor work and passagemaking alike.

Thoughtfully outfitted and loaded with extras for easy sailing and a safe, comfortable life aboard, this Oceanis 51.1 brings push‑button simplicity to short‑handed passages, intuitive handling from the twin helm stations, and secure movement on wide, uncluttered decks. Below, the Nauta Design interior bathes in natural light and refined finishes, balancing warmth and understatement to create a serene retreat at anchor or underway. A well‑appointed galley, inviting salon, and two bright heads encourage unhurried cruising, while abundant stowage and generous tankage—approximately 132 gallons of fresh water and 104 gallons of fuel—extend your horizons with confidence. From coastal hops to blue‑water adventures, this finely spec’d Oceanis 51.1 is the rare combination of performance, grace, and turnkey readiness that elevates every mile.

Introduction

AVANT, a meticulously maintained Beneteau Oceanis 51.1, has enjoyed seasonal use in Maine and has been protected indoors each winter. Built to a high specification and thoughtfully outfitted, she features premium enhancements—including electric headsail furlers—that make both sailing and life aboard effortless. Cosmetically and mechanically she reflects consistent professional care. Inspection is highly encouraged.

Overview

The Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is a thoroughly modern sailing yacht from Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design, featuring a stepped hull and a plumb bow with sprit, complemented by practical and stylish deck and interior layouts from Nauta Design. The boat is easily driven, easily handled, and a joy to sail, and it is chock full of desirable features and options including bow and stern thrusters, an electric fold-down transom, twin wheels, cockpit refrigeration, a generator and air conditioning, electric winches and in-mast furling, and telescopic folding tender davits, to name just a few.

AVANT has the three-cabin, two-head layout with white oak ALPI joinery and off-white cushions below, enhanced by the “family trim package” offered by Beneteau. On deck, cockpit cushions are in light grey Sunbrella with white piping to accompany the light grey dodger, bimini, and canvas covers, along with a darker grey boot stripe for a coordinated and sharp look. The boat has seen light summer usage and indoor winter storage and is in fantastic shape. Always professionally cared for, she is presented in sail-away condition, complete with tender and outboard, and is competitively priced and ready for the coming season.

Accommodations

Starting forward, the full-beam owner’s cabin sets the tone with a 5’-3” wide centerline berth—unheard of in a cruiser of this size—creating a gorgeous sanctuary filled with natural light and ventilation. There is ample room to move, generous storage throughout, and settee bench seats on either side of the berth. Thoughtful shelves with fiddles keep phones and small items secure, complemented by charging outlets to port and starboard. Hull ports frame the waterline views, dual overhead hatches with built-in screens and privacy shades invite breezes, and air conditioning ensures perfect comfort. A lift-up berth reveals easy-access storage beneath, a large under-berth drawer and dual hanging lockers maximize capacity, and a vanity on the aft bulkhead, complete with a pull-out storage locker and mirror above, completes this elegant retreat.

Aft to starboard, the separate shower stall is a remarkably spacious haven featuring a large built-in seat, a fiddled shelf for toiletries, and generous outboard locker storage. A vent provides AC/reverse-cycle heat, and an overhead hatch adds light and airflow.

Aft to port, the forward head is appointed with a vanity, an AC vent, abundant storage, and an overhead hatch for light and ventilation. The electric push-button quiet flush toilet includes a fresh/saltwater valve for flexible operation.

The work/comms/nav desk follows next aft to port as an inviting “nook,” with a forward-facing seat and a clever desk extension that transforms the area into an L-settee for inboard-facing lounging or as additional seating for the expandable salon table. This is a deftly executed, multifunctional concept and a hallmark of this modern generation of Oceanis 51.1 yachts. Equipment includes a VHF radio, stereo controls, a nav/reading light, recessed storage outboard, and a lift-top desk with organized stowage beneath.

Next aft to port, the large U-shaped galley offers expansive counter space forward and aft with the sink and stove outboard. Highlights include an under-counter refrigerator with door; a gimballed stainless two-burner stove with oven; and a rectangular stainless steel sink with a hot/cold faucet, countertop cover, and cutting board. A microwave oven resides in an overhead locker, an opening port draws in fresh air, an under-counter trash bin and pot locker simplify provisioning, and a foot-operated pump enhances efficiency. The countertop is the refined “Clay” compact finish with Corian fiddles, supported by a stainless steel protection handrail. Cold storage is exceptional, with a top-opening ice box with refrigeration, a freezer drawer under the washer/dryer, and a 130 liter front-opening 12 V refrigerator. Storage is extensive, with fitted cupboards and closed cubbyholes, a bin with access on the countertop, and a lower unit featuring two drawers with a dishwasher underneath. Daylight and views flow through an opening portlight with curtains in the coach roof side window and a dedicated hull portlight.

Just aft and outboard of the galley, the pantry presents a large locker with a built-in Splendide washer/dryer, a convenient drawer freezer, and an opening portlight with curtains in the coach roof side window.

Across the salon to starboard, a generous U-shaped settee wraps around an expandable dining table, taking full advantage of the yacht’s beamy design. Abundant storage and shelving outboard keep passageways clear, while sizable hull ports flood the space with light and frame the water both under sail and at anchor. The extended salon table is compatible with the sleeping option in the salon, and movement below is gracious thanks to wide companionway steps with a gentle slope. Overhead drop-down lockers outboard of the table, plus additional storage behind and under the salon settee, ensure a place for everything.

Next aft to starboard, the roomy guest head features an ensuite, separate stall shower, an opening port for natural ventilation, and a vent for AC/heat. A quiet flush electric toilet further elevates the onboard experience.

Aft of the salon, the port and starboard quarter cabins each offer oversized double berths with split mattresses, allowing the use of lee cloths or semi-permanent dividers to create private berths or secure additional offshore storage. Each cabin benefits from hull ports and opening ports, practical hanging lockers, and built-in storage, creating two inviting, highly functional guest spaces.

Cockpit

The cockpit of the Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 is a study in comfort and control, where opposing L-settees flank a large teak double-leaf table that integrates an icebox, cupholders, and lighting, all set above handsome teak decking. Thoughtful storage abounds with settee lockers, while cockpit bench extensions incorporate two halyard bags neatly below to keep lines organized and within easy reach. Twin composite helms anchor the command center, each with an innovative hinged lifting section in the sole that creates a comfortable standing steering position when the yacht is heeled, and all sail handling lines are led aft and intelligently arranged to make shorthanded sailing a confident reality from the twin helms. Electric winches for the genoa to port and starboard add effortless power to sail trim, and an electric fold-down transom delivers excellent access to and from the water while making entry to the cockpit a breeze. Protection is assured by an oversized dodger that shelters the crew yet breathes beautifully through a large center-opening section, and the fold-away smoked Lexan companionway doors complete a refined, seamanlike finish.

Electronics

A B&G offshore pack anchors a comprehensive suite of navigation and communication systems, orchestrated from XXL consoles on the port and starboard pedestals. Aerodynamic awareness is assured by a Windex windvane and a dedicated wind sensor combining windvane and anemometer, while a log and speedometer sensor delivers precise performance data. Confident passage-making comes via a NAC3 autopilot with control at the port helm console, and clear communications and situational awareness are provided by a Vesper Cortex VHF with AIS receiver function.

At the port steering console, a multifunction Zeus3 nine-inch wide touchscreen offers wireless GPS, chartplotter, chart reader, and radar capability, with Navionics Silver cartography included. A Triton² display complements the helm data suite, the 2023 HALO 20 radar sharpens target definition, and a WR10 wireless autopilot remote control adds fingertip command from anywhere on deck.

At the starboard steering console, a Zeus3 nine-inch display is paired with electric engine controls and bow and stern thruster control for effortless maneuvering. In the cockpit, additional two Triton displays broaden sightlines for the crew, while the HiFi Fusion+ system energizes the ambiance with interior speakers and waterproof exterior speakers. A Scion YX low light camera mounted at spreader height enhances night vision and safety.

Mechanical

Power is delivered by the optional larger Yanmar diesel, a 110 HP common-rail engine showing 454 hours as of June 2026, driving a three-blade folding propeller for efficient performance. Precision maneuvering is enhanced by both bow and stern thrusters, while onboard comfort is assured by 40,000 BTU of air conditioning distributed across three units.

Electrical

Power is delivered by a Fischer Panda 9 kVA 115 V generator paired with a convenient remote control panel, complemented by a dual electrical system installed in France for dependable operation. A 12/115 V, 2 kVA inverter manages efficient power conversion, while AGM batteries provide robust energy storage. Thoughtful touches include LED indirect lighting in the salon and galley for an inviting ambiance, and a dedicated water heater to ensure hot water on demand.

Rig, sails and sail handling

A Diffusion aluminum spar with double swept-back spreaders anchors a powerful and easily managed rig, complemented by in-mast furling with an electric main halyard winch and electric primary winches. Control is refined by two Harken 46 electric two-speed halyard winches and two Harken 60 two-speed electric primary winches, while a self-tacking jib pairs with a German-style two-way mainsheet for precise trim. The genoa sheet track sits cleanly in the catwalks, headsails are deployed via an electric headsail furler, and light-air versatility is delivered by an electric Code Zero furler and an electric Code Zero furling system, flown from the bowsprit.

Sails by North Sails include an in-mast furling mainsail, a self-tacking 100% jib, and an overlapping genoa. Asymmetrical spinnaker rigging broadens the downwind repertoire, and a Code Zero sail by Elstrom adds potent reaching performance when the breeze softens.

Canvas

The canvas suite features a mainsail arch, complemented by protective covers in Cadet Grey precisely fitted to the steering wheel, console, and table, while a coordinated dodger and bimini provide elegant shade and shelter without compromising sightlines or the yacht’s refined profile.

Safety

Designed with vigilance in mind, the yacht integrates safeguards throughout, beginning with a manual bilge pump positioned at the port helm and complemented by 12v electric bilge pumps for swift dewatering. On the stern pulpit, a life sling and a horseshoe throw buoy are mounted for immediate deployment, while a mast-mounted radar heightens situational awareness in all conditions. Confident movement on deck and below is further assured by a sturdy grab bar on the dodger and a stainless overhead handrail in the salon.

Deck and miscellaneous deck equipment

All the way forward, the fo'c'sle features a ladder, built-in storage cubbies, and a shelf, creating a huge storage area. On the sprit, an anchor roller pairs with a Lewmar electric windlass for effortless anchoring. Comfort and convenience continue with mosquito screens provided, dedicated mosquito screens installed on the portholes, and pleated blinds in the salon. A stainless boarding and swim ladder with teak treads ensures secure access to the water, while an air purifier enhances onboard air quality.

Tender package (davits)

This thoughtfully equipped tender package features retractable davits engineered to handle a maximum tender length of 10'-2'' and a maximum load of 180 kg / 397 Ibs, complemented by an outboard engine bracket for secure and convenient stowage.